Path of the Vampire forum

“Violence? What do you take me for? Some mafioso brute? I think not.”

The words carried a weight to them as if there were insult behind the woman’s words. As if her mere assumption that he wanted her merely for her violent tendencies was somehow insulting. As much as he may have feigned insult from her words there was a slight hint of a grin that slipped through as he considered for a moment….she wasn’t too far off base. The violent capabilities was something he did look for in the position he was looking to fill but apart from that was the knowledge of WHEN to allow such capabilities to surface and how to control such tendencies. There was no doubt in his mind that, given her words, she would be able to do so and given she had the rough building blocks needed to make something grand out of what was planned for her there was still no doubt in Blake’s amount about what was going to happen that night. He simply hoped there were no others he was going to have to...clean up in order to make it all go smoothly. It didn’t do well to have long lost family or friends or even friends of family snooping around mucking things up. This needed to be clean and tidy if it was going to happen. After all, he was a prominent business owner and a member of secret group of individuals trying to keep the true face of Harper Rock hidden, it wouldn’t go over well at all if he left any loose ends lying about.

“I’m not looking to bring you into a world of violence merely for the sake of violence. Bloodshed for the sake of bloodshed is wasteful and foolish. If there is something to be gained out of it, such as protection or the occasional dollar, then that is a different matter entirely.”

He paused and moved just the slightest bit closer to her, the area around them darkening as he did so, once again manipulating the shadows through sheer force of will. No one needed to see what was going to happen next. The decision had been made…his new ‘friend’ just didn’t realize it yet.

“I want to offer you….a new life. A life where you belong. A life where you will never want for anything ever again. Harper Rock would be your home. You’d never have to move, never have to worry about anyone giving you a hard time, never have to worry about your next meal or what clothes you’re going to wear next and if they’re clean or dirty...all of that would be taken care of for you. All you have to do is say yes and the life you have always dreamed of could be yours.”

It was at this point that his hand would be offered to her. The cold pale hand of death. It was her decision now to accept the offer willingly or not but either way, death had chosen her this night. It was all simply a matter of the how and when.

“Violence? What do you take me for? Some mafioso brute? I think not.”

The young adult showed no guilt in what she had said. She did not mean to offend him and that was all that mattered. The slight grin she caught on his face only heightened her alertness. It also told her that he knew she had not meant any offence, either that or she might not have been totally off track after all.

“I’m not looking to bring you into a world of violence merely for the sake of violence. Bloodshed just shed blood is wasteful and foolish. If there is something to be gained out of it, such as protection or the occasional dollar, then that is a different matter entirely.” He said.

‘Meaning there would still be violence.’ Kristi thought.

He moved a little closer to her causing an alarm to set off in her mind. This was not good. This man was planning something and she had no idea what. She was in a rather vulnerable position right now. She cursed herself for her misfortune. Oh well, at most she would end up dead. (Oh, the irony)

“I want to offer you….a new life. A life where you belong. A life where you will never want for anything ever again. Harper Rock would be your home. You’d never have to move, never have to worry about anyone giving you a hard time, never have to worry about your next meal or what clothes you’re going to wear next and if they’re clean or dirty...all of that would be taken care of for you. All you have to do is say yes and the life you have always dreamed of could be yours.”

Kristi stared at the man in front of her with an expression that showed she thought he belonged in the looney bin. What on earth was he talking about? What kind of life was that? The life she had always dreamed of would be hers? And how would he know about what life she had always dreamed about anyways?

So many questions swirled around her head dizzily. Shaking it off, she stood her ground.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but no such life could ever exist. Even if it does, it wouldn’t be a good one. I’m sorry Mr but I should really be getting home. My brother will be out looking for me at any moment now. ” She told him with a small smile hoping he’d let her go.

‘Yeah right, as if he’d even care.’ She told herself. The man didn’t need to know that though.

“I assure you, such a life can exist and does exist.”

His words were short and simple as his hand remained extended to her. Every opportunity would be given for her to make the choice on her own but if push came to shove….well, he couldn’t exactly be held accountable for his actions at that point. Someone could easily disappear in such a bad part of town and no one would care. Just another missing person in Harper Rock. Just a number is all and numbers didn’t account for anything especially when you could pull all the right strings and change those numbers if you wanted to. Or knew someone that could.

His next act though, that would be the truly despicable one.

Closing those deep blue eyes for a moment he used one more supernatural trick to his advantage, prying her mind open ever so slightly so that he could hear her surface thoughts. Nothing deeper. Yet. One didn’t skip directly to dessert without first enjoying the main course now did they? Sifting through her mind was something he would save for later when she was more...receptive to such gifts.

“Your brother hmm? Out looking for you? Well now, how would that be possible when you snuck out? Besides, I am sure he would be happy to be rid of the extra baggage. No little annoyances to cart around with him anymore. He could be truly free and do as he pleases. What man wouldn’t crave such a thing?”

He paused to let the realization of what had just occurred sink in. Yes, he had just done what she thought he had done. Yes, he was still reaching out with that cold pale hand.

“My offer still stands. You can leave the life of running and fighting behind you. Become a part of something far greater where the luxuries are limitless and the love and adoration is unending. All you have to do is say that one little word and it can all be yours...”

As he slipped from the complex Mordechai drew the shadows around him hiding his brobdingnagian frame from the assorted humans still roving the darkened streets. He watched as the woman stopped and chatted with her escort before sending him off. An errant twitch inside almost sent him to feed off the male, but the woman intrigued him, and few things did. He moved closer as he watched Blake close on the woman, but not quite close enough for either of them to sense his presence. The killer only caught snippets of their conversation, not able to ascertain Blake's goals with the woman, but positive of his interest. Mordechai drift slightly closer as the pair grasp hands as if to seal a deal. Seldom did any emotion cloud the killer's stoic countenance, but now an eyebrow quirked upwards as he witnessed the small human female twist into Blake and with a yank send him up into the air behind him as she took off at a dead run. Mordechai didn't give Blake a second thought, nor let his eyes follow. The two had met in the ring and on the streets and danced the dance, and the killer knew that no one that could go toe to toe with him, and even occasionally best him, could be damaged by a mere human.

The woman was fast, very fast for a human, and her lithe body moved with purpose as she sought to place miles between herself and Blake. As fast as the woman was, she moved at a snails pace compared to Mordechai as he released the shadows and activated the first shill he had learned years ago as a vampire. A burst of celerity made it seem as though he had simply appeared in front of the fleeing girl. Hitting the three hundred thirty pounds of pure muscle on the seven foot three vampire must have felt like she had just run into a concrete embankment, as the impact had barely ruffled his clothes. Catching her arms as she rebounded he easily lifted and turned her, pinning her arms to her torso with one arm, as the other wrapped up what he knew would be dangerous legs. Holding her immobile, Mordechai reached out with his mind, a faint chuckle in the tone as he telepathically touched Blake "Did not your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?" Looking down into the woman's face he smiled, a most terrifying sight as it ended long before it reached the flat black eyes that gazed at her's, and was filled with a pair of needle sharp elongated canines.

"Hello sweety"

Those ice cold eyes watched as the pain flitted through the eyes of the young woman before him. It was clear he had struck a nerve with his devious little pokes and prods at her mind. It could have been far worse if the effort was actually put forth but the pain wasn’t what he was after. No. The true goal was to weaken her resolve, a resolve that was stronger than that of almost any human he had ever met.

The hesitation he saw in her only reaffirmed his belief that his decision was the right one and as she reached out to take his hand his features visibly softened, a genuine and happy smile forming on his lips. The sudden quick grip immediately had him on guard, even as she attempted to flip him single-handed he adjusted himself and landed in a very low, almost predatory, crouch. A soft growl escaping him as the predator within finally made itself known. Like some soulless abomination he turned to watch his soon to be progeny attempt to flee.

“Silly girl, you should know by now that there is no escaping your fate.”

The words were mumbled softly as he lifted his hand. The darkness he seemed to command at will swirled as if it had a life of it’s own, a single blade of darkness rising from the shadows and aimed at the young woman’s torso in hopes of landing a brutal, if not deadly blow that would only serve to make her turning that much easier. He had tried the easy road, he had tried to allow her to make the choice herself and he had even trusted her with the secret of what he was but, alas, it was not something that seemed to be easily accepted. Pity. He had hoped his offer of such a gift would have been welcomed given what he already knew of the poor girl’s past.

With a slight roll of his eyes he watched as a far too familiar face appeared and almost engulfed the petite frame of his soon to be progeny. It was with an almost all too casual walk that he made his way to the pair, the slight intrusion into his mind by the larger male making Blake’s brow furrow ever so slightly. Telepath to telepath he replied to the thoughts that forced their way into his mind with thoughts of his own that would be shared with the formidable male he now stood before.

On the contrary, my mother never taught me a thing. My sire, however, did teach me to test those I might wish to share my gift with.

Aloud he spoke.

“And here I was thinking you would accept my offer. Now, if you would be ever so kind…”

Raising his arm, Blake bit down into his own wrist. Unlike most of his kind his blood did that which came naturally to a shadow and began to float into the air as if the shadows themselves coursed through his veins. Looking to Mordechai he gave a slight nod hoping the larger man would understand what was about to occur.

The scent of blood was invasive, filling the air with its coppery scent. The massive killer did not thirst, but there was a sweetness to the scent of this one, an almost innocence that he could taste on his tongue. Mordechai's lips turned upward in a facsimile of a smile, but the flat black of his irises bored into the eyes of the shadow before him. Watching as the tendrils of smokey blood wafted on the air he finally enunciated audible words in his gravely voice. "And what make you so sure she wishes your 'gift'? Perhaps she would prefer the 'gift' of one a might stronger...." Letting his words drift off into silence the killer cocked an eyebrow. As more blood ran down his arms Mordechai felt the weakening of child like woman in his arms. the thrashing had lessened, although she continued to beat her head upon his chest, almost as if she was trying to crack her skull on the wall of muscle. The killers eyes blinked once as he reached inside himself, then a faint warmth in his hands lasted for a few seconds, as he infused the blood level of the human in his hands, not yet letting her bleed out.

Even as the larger male spoke Blake couldn't help but let a sick and sadistic grin form. He listened and let the words resound within his mind for a moment as he pulled back the sleeve of his shirt, exposing his bare arm. The black blood inherent to all shadows continuing to wisp away in to nothingness as Blake finally spoke.

"Strength is not always gauged in size and physicality, Mord. I would expect you of all people to understand this. Between myself, Andras and whom ever else might return one day, you know that this woman would have the best any of our kind could ever hope for. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I have a turning to perform. You're more than welcome to stay and watch if you wish. Perhaps afterwards you could even help her adjust given how...cold I am told I can be."

He figured the words were neutral enough. He had staked his claim and yet still offered something to the larger man. Always the one to try and spare his competition from having to fight Blake bandied his words about like the expert businessman he was. Already his other hand had reached in to his pants pockets and blindly he ha a number ready to be dialed should Mordechai act in some foolish manner. Blake would only play nice for so long before he'd call in a favor or two.